Spacesuits have changed in design and mission over the decades. When Wernher von Braun first imagined a rotating space station, the Disney animators he worked with provided semi-robotic capsules from which astronauts would work. The first astronauts flew into space wearing flight suits that had been adapted to their specific spacecraft. As subsequent astronauts started to travel outside the spacecraft, spacesuits have become more tailored and versatile. Spacesuit designers still face constraints. The suits have to fit into the spacecraft and be comfortable enough to allow meaningful work outside of our world.
Come learn about the history of spacesuits from space history curator Cathleen Lewis, and hear from NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman about the future of spacesuits as NASA prepares to send humans beyond near-Earth orbit, back to the Moon, to asteroids, to Mars, and on commercial ventures.
This program is made possible through the generous support of Boeing.
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